Do Away Supporters 'Deserve' To See Their Team?

05 December 2012 02:03

The late Freddie Fletcher once told me (on a trip to Italy with the NU players) that handling away tickets for Newcastle Utd fans was "not worth the effort".

He argued the point: "Why should we help other clubs sell tickets to fill their stadium", when he was obviously missing the point that ANY player appreciates the effort the fans make to support their team on away trips.

So - to the point of this article - how would Newcastle fans feel if Derek Llambias REFUSED tickets from other clubs?

Because that has happened to Freddie Fletcher's old club Glasgow Rangers today.

Rangers will NOT accept their ticket allocation for the William Hill Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice. The Ibrox club were on Monday drawn to play United in the fifth round in February, the first match away to Scottish Premier League opposition since they were relaunched as a new company and denied entry to the SPL.

Some Rangers fans believe United chairman Stephen Thompson was an influential figure in their demotion to the Irn-Bru Third Division.

Thompson had also refused to refund Rangers fans when a match at Tannadice between the two clubs in 2009 was abandoned at half-time due to adverse weather conditions.

In his statement confirming that the Ibrox club would not be taking any tickets, chief executive Charles Green said: "Everyone at this club is dismayed at the actions of certain SPL clubs, which were actively engaged in trying to harm Rangers when we were in a perilous situation and we are acutely aware of their attitude to us."

Rangers' announcement brings into question whether they will be entitled to share in the revenue generated by the fixture.

A Scottish Football Association spokesperson said: "The matter will be discussed at the SFA board meeting on Thursday."

SHOULDN'T RANGERS TAKE THE TICKETS . AND LET THEIR SUPPORTERS MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS?